Density

In a previous post I mentioned the theory of digitizing to help us understand why we do what we do.

Okay lets take a look at what density is...

(Webster 1828)

Density, n.

1.  Closeness of constituent parts; compactness. Density is opposed to rarity; and in philosophy, the         density of a body indicates the quanitity of matter contained in it, under a given bulk.  If a body of       equal bulk with another is of double the density, it contains double the quantity of matter.

2.  Thickness; as the density of fog.

Now lets look at the basics.  By the basics, I mean hand embroidery.  If you've never tried doing a satin stitch by hand I suggest you give it a try to help you get a feel for designing a satin stitch in the machine.  Mary Corbet is amazing, I love her work and she has great resources on her site Needle n Thread.

Back to digitizing, lets say you want to create an embroidery using 60wt. instead of 40wt. thread.  You have to do a third (1/3) more of the stitches.  This concept works with all specialty threads.

                            I apologize if these are hard to view.  I could only do them so large.


                                                The density reads: 8957

                                          60wt Before adjusting density.

                                         

                     The density reads: 10392 (This was adjusted from 5 to 4)

I wanted to keep this short and sweet for a beginner.  If you have any questions, just leave a comment below and I'll get back to you.


Cultivating Creativity,
Dora (aka Elaine)

As of late...

... trying to catch up on a few things I've been up to.  It's hard to capture all my moments but I will share a few that I have.

Below is an embroidery I created with the sketch option in my Premier+ Ultra software.  I found a picture of a grouse that I really liked and sketched over it.  It is challenging to use on a computer unless you have Bamboo.  I use to have one, but when it quite I didn't buy another and am looking to trying my software on the iPad Pro which is built for professionals and supports CAD programs, so I am told.  The iPad Pro has a stylus that I LOVE.  There where a lot of stops and starts with this design, however I had to trouble with it.  It is NOT for sell in the Etsy shop.  The design was not free for commercial use.

 In September (I think, lol, time flies!) the girls and I went to Pineapple Fabrics with a friend of theirs.  We had a great time and we even tale gated!  My daughter packed a chicken salad lunch (which was great with corn chips if you have to do gluten free!).

While there we ran into a friend so we all headed

to Starbucks for coffee.  I regret not getting a 

picture with her in front of the huge chest of drawers on the outside of the building that Starbucks was 

located in.

This is a picture my daughter Eva drew with her Copic markers she's been investing in.  They are a little pricey, but the results were well worth it.  For that matter so is the paper for it. 

 I created the vinyl folder for her to keep her copic paper in on one side and the other side for her finished pieces.  This was so quick and easy.  I cut 2 vinyl pieces to the size of the paper and added 1/4" for paper thickness on all sides.  I then cut a piece an inch taller than the other two pieces of vinyl.  Next bias binding was added to the top of the shorter pieces.  All three pieces where then sandwiched together and bias binding sewn around all three layers.  I used plastic clips to hold the layers while sewing on the binding and top stitched with a straight stitch although for a brief (very brief)  moment I thought about using  something decorative.














Create what you love!

Due to Hurricane Florence and a Wedding...

I have not put much into the theory of density to do a post yet.  So for know I am sharing my Bob Ross "Happy Little Accident" moment with you.

 

You can see in the first picture that I mistakenly put yellow thread in (twice!) So I made it a Bob Ross moment and made my mistake into a Happy Accident.  No artist is perfect, it's just having the knowledge of how to fix mistakes that makes one great.

Find a way to make your "mistake" a Bob Ross moment.

Happy Trees!,
Elaine

Hand Embroidery on a Machine

Okay, I just had to do a post on this awesome embroidery site.  I started out doing hand embroidery and would love to create in  machine embroidery a Jacobean style design, but haven't gotten any further than the idea.  I stumbled across someone who has done the very thing my business is striving to do.  That is, "crossing art barriers".


So, in awe, I give you....

Happy Embroidering!

My Challenge Projects:

No takers of the challenge at this point.  Don't be afraid to take up the challenge later in the quarter.  I signed up for Aby's about halfway through and made myself complete these looming projects inspite of a family visit and unexpected cold plaque that hit our house.  I emphasized "made", because at the end I still wasn't feeling the best and almost said forget it.

• Digitizing Software:  A recipe design for kitchen towels.  I had such a hard time with this two - two and a half (who's counting!) years ago and need to finally go back in armed with the knowledge I have gained and do it!

• Embroidery :  Doing a cutwork design off the edge of a table runner.  I'm sure it's not as scary as it seems.  My husband once told me no one (or thing) could intimidate me unless I let them (it). 

• Blog:  To create a paper piecing tips page.  

Just Do It!

Carolina Fiber Fest, antiquing and the latest projects.

 My MIL is in town and has been catching up on knitting and crocheting projects that she has started over the years.  I thought she might like to check out some new threads and patterns for when she's done, so we went to the Carolina Fiber Fest in Raleigh, NC.  Lot's of stuff to drool over.  So much that I really didn't get any pictures.

This is a beautiful warp from the Triangle Weaver's Guild

Sir Walter's Lacers

 After the Fiber Festival we headed for lunch before heading back to the fair grounds for the antique show.   When we parked we saw that there was also a dog show going on and the ones out happen to be German Shepards.   We watched for a few minutes before heading inside to the antiques.

Overshot Blanket from VA early 1900's

Grace finished a blanket she's been knitting on for a couple of years.  It took her so long because she wasn't very excited about it.  After she was done and the rest of us commented how much we liked it she started a new one out of purple superwash wool and has finished 1/3 in the past few days.  She can be fast when she's motivated.

This is a embroidered biscornu I designed and made for my mom a few years ago.  She had it hanging on the wall when I went over for her birthday so I took a picture.

I finally started a new inkle loom project.  This isn't the best lighting, but it's usually evening when I think to take pictures.  I want to start making more trims.  I could have made this with floss size thread, but used perle cotton size 5 and the weft is six strands of floss.

I made little bags for my sister in Korea and my niece at collage. I love making these.  They are quick and you get to practice free motioning.

I am also working on finishing two projects for a challenge from Aby Dollinger at Aby Quilts.  She runs quarterly challenges and the current challenge is to finish UFO's.  She may be running this again next quarter as well, so check her out and get in on it!

Say Goodnight, Gracie...